Recordings That You Are Considering

[DavidRoss]

Barby's M4 is good enough, especially for collectors of Barby's Mahler ( ).

I have Rattie's BP M9 & 10 but none of his CBSO Mahler and for $25 per cycle the collector in me starts frothing at the mouth, likewise the Tennstedt box for $35. It's not an "either or" proposition, but considering both as additional alternatives to the many cycles and individual issues I already have--and only because I've liked the snippets in Daniel's comparison threads more than I would have expected.

As I said, I must be crazy, for I probably need Guy's ongoing LvB sonata cycle more than two more Mahler cycles by conductors whose interventionist emotive approach I don't generally favor.

[Que]

A set of 13 CDs of Schumann's piano music played by Eric Le Sage, from Alpha: 25 Euros at Amazon France.

http://bons-plans-classique.blogspot.in/2012/09/schumann-integrale-piano-eric-le-sage.html

Nice. I never got a clear picture whether this set is mandatory performance-wise - it seems not many are familiar with the recordings?

Maybe I should should have posted this request on the other thread, but can anyone comment?

Q

[DavidRoss]

Nice. I never got a clear picture whether this set is mandatory performance-wise - it seems not many are familiar with the recordings?

Maybe I should should have posted this request on the other thread, but can anyone comment?

Uhh ... no Schumann recordings are mandatory?  [Ducks and runs!] 

[mc ukrneal]

Uhh ... no Schumann recordings are mandatory?  [Ducks and runs!] 

Run faster!

[Brian]

I'm selflessly sacrificing myself for the good of GMG by listening to Le Sage's Fantasie in C, Op 17 via Naxos Music Library. It's a very brisk account: 12:07, 7:14, 10:06.

The first movement is brisk and somewhat impulsive, but this does not mean that Le Sage speeds through everything; he has a strong sense of the music's ebb and flow. It's just that when things flow back to the faster material, he's rather keen on it. Quite a bit of virtuosity. Very well-handled coda.

The second movement is pretty close to my ideal: it starts off fairly subtly and grows more jubilant and more forceful as it goes. Maybe some slight choppiness in the coda.

The final movement is about in line with other performers in terms of tempo, but I definitely yearned for a softer touch. All told, it's a good enough performance without being great.

That said, I think the main interest, especially at such a low price for a box set as luxurious as the kind Alpha usually releases, must be the "rarities". So I also sampled the Kinderball for two pianos, and found it quite enjoyable.

Sound's rather close.

Would very much appreciate comments from anyone who's heard these recordings. At about US $33, with so much music I've never heard, and knowing how nice Alpha dresses up their recordings, I am sorely tempted.

[Wakefield]

Nice. I never got a clear picture whether this set is mandatory performance-wise - it seems not many are familiar with the recordings?

Maybe I should should have posted this request on the other thread, but can anyone comment?

Q

Currently, I have 14 CDs of this series (although not exclusively devoted to the piano music, but also including chamber music) and, well, my opinion is that Le Sage is a sort of extremely diligent student, technically irreproachable. But I am always expecting more from an expressive viewpoint: more drama, more pain, more fear, more unlimited love, more tenderness. In short, I find his performances a bit academic.

[Que]

Currently, I have 14 CDs of this series (although not exclusively devoted to the piano music, but also including chamber music) and, well, my opinion is that Le Sage is a sort of extremely diligent student, technically irreproachable. But I am always expecting more from an expressive viewpoint: more drama, more pain, more fear, more unlimited love, more tenderness. In short, I find his performances a bit academic.

Thank you all for the comments on the Schumann by Le Sage!

Perhaps the chamber music box set is a better idea...if it ever happens to fly by at bargain price.

[asin]B007CMTNSO[/asin]

Q

[The new erato]

Thank you all for the comments on the Schumann by Le Sage!

Perhaps the chamber music box set is a better idea...if it ever happens to fly by at bargain price.

[asin]B007CMTNSO[/asin]

Q

It got a very fine review in the latest issue of IRR, but currently isn't on offer anywhere AFA I can see.

[Wakefield]

Thank you all for the comments on the Schumann by Le Sage!

Perhaps the chamber music box set is a better idea...if it ever happens to fly by at bargain price.

[asin]B007CMTNSO[/asin]

Q

Yes, I think better of the chamber music with piano; but, then, I recall that fortunately there are better versions played on period instruments.

[Lisztianwagner]

This one looks absolutely alluring:

[asin]B001DAYU9I[/asin]

[Mirror Image]

This one looks absolutely alluring:

[asin]B001DAYU9I[/asin]

I'd get that Petrenko recording I recommended first, especially since you already have Ashkenazy's first cycle on Decca.

[Lisztianwagner]

I'd get that Petrenko recording I recommended first, especially since you already have Ashkenazy's first cycle on Decca.

I would have got the Petrenko first in any case; but since I'm a great admirer of Ashkenazy's Rachmaninov and that box includes recordings I haven't got yet, I would like to buy the Ashkenazy at some point as well.

[Mirror Image]

I would have got the Petrenko first in any case; but since I'm a great admirer of Ashkenazy's Rachmaninov and that box includes recordings I haven't got yet, I would like to buy the Ashkenazy at some point as well.

Well sure, but you've got to hear that Petrenko recording, Ilaria. This Petrenko recording is probably, dare I say, the finest Rachmaninov recording I've heard.

[Lisztianwagner]

Well sure, but you've got to hear that Petrenko recording, Ilaria. This Petrenko recording is probably, dare I say, the finest Rachmaninov recording I've heard.

All right, I'll follow your advice.

[Mirror Image]

All right, I'll follow your advice.

[Opus106]

All right, I'll follow your advice.

I don't know how you can put up with people who tell you what you've got to listen to. Just follow your mind and heart, and get the Ashkenazy, Ilaria. That's the way it is supposed to be. 0:)

[Lisztianwagner]

I don't know how you can put up with people who tell you what you've got to listen to. Just follow your mind and heart, and get the Ashkenazy, Ilaria. That's the way it is supposed to be. 0:)

Being a huge fan of Ashkenazy, I'll certainly get his set at some point; but since it's rather expensive, I prefer to buy the Petrenko first, along with other cds. Anyway I didn't decide to get Petrenko's recording just because John told me to do that; after listening to his excellent Shostakovich's symphonies, I'm really keen to hear Petrenko performing Rachmaninov. Moreover, if I'm told that one is a brilliant version, it becomes even more interesting.

[madaboutmahler]

I've heard some excerpts from Petrenko's Rach Symphonic Dances, Ilaria, it really is outstanding!

John, will you be collecting Petrenko's new Rach symphony cycle on EMI?

[Lisztianwagner]

I've heard some excerpts from Petrenko's Rach Symphonic Dances, Ilaria, it really is outstanding!

[Mirror Image]

Being a huge fan of Ashkenazy, I'll certainly get his set at some point; but since it's rather expensive, I prefer to buy the Petrenko first, along with other cds. Anyway I didn't decide to get Petrenko's recording just because John told me to do that; after listening to his excellent Shostakovich's symphonies, I'm really keen to hear Petrenko performing Rachmaninov. Moreover, if I'm told that one is a brilliant version, it becomes even more interesting.

Yeah, this isn't me telling you what to. This is you figuring it out for yourself. Just one example of free-thinking.